Cannabis Prohibition Protest

It has been 36 years since the Misuse of Drugs Act (MoDa)1975 was first enacted. It is based on lies and false information to outlaw a medicine that has been used effectively and safely for thousands of years.

This has resulted in huge profits for drug companies and poor health for people. The law needs to be overhauled and replaced with a safe regulated market. The Act's framework is based on the recommendations of the 1973 report of the Blake- Palmer Committee and largely reflects the false propaganda of that era. The MoDa is not aligned with New Zealand's National Drug Policy of harm minimisation. It does not provide a coherent and effective legislative framework for responding to the use of new psychoactive drugs. The draconian prohibition laws cause more harm than they prevent and erode our basic human rights.

In 2010 The Law Commission issued its report, Controlling and Regulating Drugs - A Review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (NZLC R122, 2011). Among the key proposals contained in the report are:

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 should be repealed and replaced by a new Act, which should be administered by the Ministry of health (so it becomes a health issue, not a crime). Legalising cannabis for medicinal use.

A mandatory cautioning scheme for all personal possession and use offences that come to the attention of the police, removing minor drug offenders from the criminal justice system and providing greater opportunities for those in need of treatment.

A full scale review of the current drug classification system which is used to determine restrictiveness of controls and severity of penalties, address existing inconsistencies and focusing solely on assessing a drug's risk of harm, including social harm.

Government Failure

Our government has again failed to act urgently on the recommended proposals and as a result people who use cannabis for medicinal purposes are being arrested, charged, convicted and even sent to prison! People who need safe effective medicine are being denied it, this is torture and extortion by the medical profession.

Billy Mckee is a victim, he is a leg amputee and the director for GreenCross (a support group for people who use cannabis medicinally). He is facing conviction on one charge of cultivating cannabis and four charges of selling small quantities of cannabis to an undercover policeman. Billy was targeted and entrapped by the cop posing as someone suffering from severe migraines. This is a symptom for a brain tumour and often results in a slow painful and expensive death.

He is being sentenced at 9.00am Tuesday the 30th October at the Palmerston North High Court. These charges could get him up to 8 years in jail. This was an act of compassion. Justice was not served.

We are arriving at Palmerston North High Court on Monday the 29th October by 4:00pm for a public display of non-violent civil disobedience at 4:20pm. We will then picket the courthouse until 8:00pm at which time our overnight candlelight vigil will begin. It is devoted to Billy and in solidarity with all medical cannabis users around NZ and the world. From 9:00am on the 30th we will picket the courthouse and sit with him in the courtroom until he is sentenced or freed.

Billy lost a leg due to a car crash, he is confined to a wheelchair and in pain from nerve damage to the stump as well as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The pain medications he was prescribed by doctors caused intolerable side effects were even driving was unsafe.

Prison terms have been imposed on other medical cannabis users due to a corrupt law that lacks compassion and common sense. Please come along to the protest to show your disgust at our government's lack of compassion and their failure to act upon the law commission's recommendations!

If we can get enough numbers and join with others that are unhappy with our government then we will go to parliament with our protest.

ENDS

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